Horse-detacher



(No Model.) .2 Sheets-Sheet l.

' J. W. HOWGATE.

HORSE DETAGHER. No. 395,144. 8 Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

N. FETKRS, Phulwulhagnphu. wuhinglcn. ILC.

(No Model.) 2 Shets-Shet 2. J. W. HOWGATE.

- HORSE DETAGHER.

No. 395,144. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

lluiTEn STATES PATENT E icE.

HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,144, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed August 3, 883- To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOSEPH \V. H OWGATE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of \Vilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Detachers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which. it appcrtains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to horsc-detachers.

The object is to produce a horse-detacher which shall be automatic in operationthat is, one that will free the horse from the vehicle without the use of the handsor which may be operated by the hands, if desired.

Furthermore, the object is to produce a device which shall be simple in construction, durable and efficient in use, and comparatively inexpensive of production.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a horse-detacher, as will be hereinafter fully set forth in the specification, illustrated in the drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawii1gs,forn1in g .part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated one form of device embodying my invention, although the same may be carriedinto effect in other ways without in the least departing from the spirit of the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the device, with the shafts held in place therein, the weight for operating the releasing mechanism, and the spring-actuated arms for holding the shafts in place. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the general construction of the device. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 00a; of Fig. 1. 4: is a perspective view of the device with the shafts removed, showing the different parts of the detaching device. Figs. 5 and (3 are detail views of the arms for releasing the shafts. Fig. 7 a detail view of an adjustable bar for attaching the shafts to the de vice, and Fig. 8 isa longitudinal sectional view of one of the thillrboxes.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the axle of a wagon, to which is secured, by means $erial No. 283,062. (No model.)

of clips to, a plate or bar, B, to which the detaching device is secured, the said clips passing through L-shaped arms a, rigidly secured to the said plate.

The releasing device, which may be operated by gravity alone or by means of intermediate mechanism by which a person occupying a vehicle may operate it, is constructed of two arms, U and (1, a spring, D, for operating the same, and a weight or pendulum, E, for releasing the mechanism to cause the shafts F to be freed. The arms (3 and C are formed as shown in the drawings, one end, 0, being bent at right angles to the body of the arm. The lower portion, 0, of the arm C is provided with a longitudinal slot, 0 designed to engage a pin, 0, on the arm 0, the two arms being pivoted to the plate Bby means of screws or bolts 0 D designates a spring,which is coiled around a screw or bolt, (1, secured to the plate 13, the ends of the spring being bent into two coils, as shown at d, and then into arms diadapted to bear against the arms 0 and C to cause them to operate in a manner as will be hereinafter fully described.

E designates a weight or pendulum, which is pivoted to a downwardly-projecting shoulder, D, secured to the plate B, the said arm being adjusted to any height desired by means of a slot, a and held there by the screw or bolt d, which holds the spring in place for operating the arms 0 and C. The upper portion of this pendulum or weight is formed into an eccentric, e, designed to bear against the pin 0 on the arm 0 to hold the arms up or in the position requisite to retain the shafts E in place on the vehicle, an d the lower end is provided with a weight, 6, for operating the arms by gravity. To the back of the stem of this pendulum is secured a flanged shoulder, 0 which engages the inner surface of a semicircular disk, e on the arm D, the said flange being designed to cause the pendulum to be held in a vertical position when the vehicle to which it is attached is running.

G designates a bar, to each end of which secured a collar, g, the inner end of the said collar being provided with a screw, g, by which it is held in. place on the bar, so as to admit of the bar Gbeing adjusted to fit shafts of different sizes, and the outer end with a square shank, g terminating in a ball, 9 which forms a bearing for the shaft. The ends of the shafts are provided with boxes f, having countersunk bearings in which these balls fit, and are held in place by means of a plate, f, and a screw, f The center portion of this bar is bent up, as shown at P, so as to be out of contact with the screw (6 when the device is intact.

hen the device is put together, the square shank of the collar fits in grooves in the shoulders H, secured to the plate B, and in grooves c in the shoulders c of the arms 0 and O, as shown in the drawings. The arms 0 are forced up, and the eccentric c on the pendulum engages the pin 0 and holds the shafts in place. Now, should the horse attached to the vehicle using this device run away and the vehicle be tilted to one side, the pendulum, by the force of gravity, will tilt and thus throw the eccentric out of contact with the pin 0 The spring D will then force the arms 0 and C down and throw the shoulders 0 up, thus releasing the shafts from the axle. I11 order to give additional bearings for the ends of the rod G, plates J are secured to the plate B, the ends of which are bent up to form flanges 7', against which the bar rests when the vehicle is being drawn over the ground.

It will thus be seen that this device is automatic, being operated by the weight on the pendulum; but, if desired, a cord or chain, I, may be attached to the stem of the pendulum and passed up through the body of the vehicle and in reach of the person occupying the same, so that should a horse run away and there be no immediate danger of the vehicle I overturning, the horse may be freed from the vehicle by simply drawing the cord or chain, which would raise the pendulum and free the shafts.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A horse-detacher consisting of springactuated arms for holding the shafts in posi tion and a pendulum for releasing the said arms to free the shafts, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the plate, a spring secured thereto having its ends bent to form toes, and the arms 0 and O, engaging the said toes and operated by the same to cause the shafts to be released. when the pendulum is thrown to one side, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the bar, the spring.

secured thereto and having its ends bent to form toes, the arms pivoted to the said plate and engaging the said toes, and a slot formed in one arm and designed to engage a pin in the other arm, whereby when the spring operates the arms will be raised simultaneously, substantially as described.

i. The combination of the bar, a spring secured thereto and having its ends bent to form toes, arms pivoted to the said bar and operated by the said spring, a pin secured to one arm and engaging a slotformed in the other arm, and a pendulum pivoted below the said arm and carrying on its upper end an eccentric for engaging the pin, whereby when the pendulum is thrown to one side the arms will be released and thus free the shafts, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the bar B, of the plates J, secured thereto and provided with the upwardly-extending flanges j, against which the shank of an adjustable rod rests to remove strain from the detaching device, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the bar B, of the arms 0 and C, pivoted thereon, the spring for operating the arms, and the pendulum having an eccentric formed on its upper end to engage a pin on the arm 0, whereby when the pendulum is tilted to one side the pin will be released from the eccentric and the arms forced down by the spring, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the bar B, of the adjustable plate D, carrying a semicircular disk for engaging a shoulder on the pendulum to hold the same in a vertical position, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the shafts, of an adjustable bar provided at its outer ends with balls for engaging boxes on the shafts, sub stantially as described.

9. The combination, with the bar, of the collars fitting thereon, the ends of which are provided with balls for engaging boxes in the shafts, the square shank for engaging a groove formed in the shoulders secured to the bar B, and grooves in the ends of the arms 0 and C, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH IV. HOIVGATE.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN W. CAREY, FRANK KLAIR. 

